Gov. Larry Hogan appointed his top legislative lobbyist to the state’s highest court Wednesday.
The Republican governor elevated Joseph M. Getty, his chief legislative officer and a former Republican state senator, to a vacant post on the seven-member Court of Appeals.
His appointment is effective immediately, but subject to confirmation by the state Senate, which won’t meet until next year’s General Assembly session.
Getty, 64, was one of five people the Maryland Judicial Nominating Commission recommended to fill the job.
“Joe is a devoted public servant who has spent his entire career and a good portion of his life in service to his community and to our state,” Hogan said in a statement. “His unquestionable integrity, deep legal expertise, and devotion to the people of Maryland make him an excellent fit for the state’s highest court.”
If Getty is confirmed, he will join Judge Robert N. McDonald as the court’s only judges who were appointed without previous bench experience.